The Ruins of Xanthos Valley - a Place Worth Exploring

The gorgeous Xanthos Valley is only a short distance by automobile from the Kalkan hotels where the sites and cities of Lycian are waiting for you to discover.

Xanthos Valley is named after the city of Xanthos, among the most notable an oldest cities in the area. This ancient capital of Lycia was even mentioned in Homer's Iliad as the place where Arpendonte led his soldiers. And even though Iliad was a tragic story, this tale is nothing like the actual city itself. The inhabitants of the city have committee mass suicide twice in order to avoid submitting to opposing armies.

There are several notable monuments in Xanthos that are currently on display at the British Museum, but there are still plenty of sites and historical relics to be seen. For example, the Harpy Tomb that dates all the way back to 5 BC is a highly popular tourist attraction and can be reached quickly from the Kalkan hotels. At this tomb, you can view intricate marble motifs that depict sirens who are carrying souls of the deceased.

Close to the Harpy Tomb is the Pillar Tomb, which is a table that is bird-shaped. This tomb, going back to 3 or 4 BC, is even older than the Harpy Tomb.

For those interested in ancient languages, the Xanthian Obelisk is a must see. This monument showcases 250 lines of Lycian text encircling the monument on all 4 sides and is the largest one known to date. It was first constructed around the 3rd century as a replacement of the Roman Agora. The Xanthian Obelisk once had a pillar on top of two stepped krepis as well as a funeral chamber; however, these are now held at Istanbul's Archaeological Museum.

The ancient amphitheater is arguably the best tourist attraction in Xanthos and can be seen via tour companies that take visitors directly to the site from their Kalkan hotel, but you are free to drive there yourself from the resort. As a replacement to the Hellenistic amphitheater that once stood, the Xanthos Amphitheater was built around the 2nd century. The stage is still intact, but the two top rows are missing.

Patara is another town in the Lycian Valley that was once Lycia's main port; however, as it stands today, it is only a salt marsh. Most of the area is unable to be seen as it is buried underneath the ground, which means what is visible has been naturally preserved. Now that there are no longer Lycian inhabitants, Santa Clause calls this place home. Yes, Santa Clause! This may come as a surprise to many as Patara is not a winter destination. Instead of a snow covered ground, you will see a sandy beach, which many believe to be the longest beach in the area.

With the right mix of sandy beaches, local celebrity, and ancient architecture, Xanthos Valley - the perfect place to explore for visitors staying at the hotels of Kalkan.